Consumer TechConsumer technology is going to exist indefinitely, perhaps for as long as the human species exists. At CleanTechnica, we try to feature consumer technologies that help to reduce global warming pollution and other types of pollution. For example: electric cars, solar panels, bikes, energy efficient appliances and electronics, and green smartphone apps. Keep an eye on this category for all sorts of fun and cool, helpful consumer technology.

Report: UK Wind Energy Capacity Grew By 38% In 2013

The wind energy sector in the UK is continuing to grow at a respectable pace, based on the most recent figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Wind power rose to provide about 7.7% of the UK’s electricity in 2013 — up from 5.5% in 2012, a 38% year-on-year increase.

Other interesting stats from the new report include the fact that low-carbon electricity provided nearly one-third of all the electricity generated in the UK last year — largely down to a surge in wind power output. To be exact, low-carbon power represented 32.7% of the electricity supplied last year, up from 29.4% the previous year.

The majority of this surge was the continued growth of the offshore wind energy sector. Quite a number of large wind projects came online — capacity grew from 1.86 GW to 3.3 GW, a 79% increase.

The larger onshore wind industry also saw capacity grow by 25 per cent to 6.4 GW over the same period, with 1.29 GW of new capacity installed.

The DECC figures also revealed that bioenergy increased its share of the power mix by 52 per cent to account for 2.8 per cent of total demand in 2013. However, the growth in wind and bioenergy was offset by a 1.2 per cent fall in hydropower, caused by the decrease in rainfall around certain plants.

Given that these figures are provisional, only representing data from the major producers, it’s likely that the percentage representing renewables will climb somewhat in the final report when the output from small-scale solar and wind energy producers is factored in.

About the Author

James Ayre 's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy. You can follow his work on Google+.

Wind Energy

Search the IM Network

The content produced by this site is for entertainment purposes only. Opinions and comments published on this site may not be sanctioned by, and do not necessarily represent the views of Sustainable Enterprises Media, Inc., its owners, sponsors, affiliates, or subsidiaries.